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Tenaya Climbing Shoes

Chris Graham · · Bartlett, NH · Joined Jun 2008 · Points: 545
Weston L wrote: Quick question though - the Oasi's don't fit me and I am looking to snag another pair of Tenaya's in the near future. Are any of the other lasts as broad as the Ra or are they all as narrow as the Oasi? Thanks!
The Masais are fantastic, great fit. Still a bit narrow for my flippers but the design totally works for me. Also, if you are looking for a more high performance shoe, the Iati has a relatively wide forefoot and narrow heel. Every bit as good a performer as the Oasi with a better fit IMHO.

Grammy
Jon Frisby · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2013 · Points: 270

My tarifas are an 8 and I'm a street 10-10.5. 41 in Solution, 10 in dragon, team, and blackwing. 41.5 in most other LS/Scarpas. They're tight but pretty comfortable. I could downsize another 1/2 size but I wouldn't really want to

Ted Pinson · · Chicago, IL · Joined Jul 2014 · Points: 252

Huh...weird. Everyone else seems to say that you have to downsize pretty significantly in the Masai, lower even than Sportiva. I almost pulled the trigger on a clearance deal but couldn't go through with it because I don't feel comfortable buying a shoe from a company that I've never tried on before. Really wish they'd start carrying these in major US stores.

Edit: nm, I was thinking of the Oasis.

Chris Rice · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2013 · Points: 55
Ted Pinson wrote:Huh...weird. Everyone else seems to say that you have to downsize pretty significantly in the Masai, lower even than Sportiva. I almost pulled the trigger on a clearance deal but couldn't go through with it because I don't feel comfortable buying a shoe from a company that I've never tried on before. Really wish they'd start carrying these in major US stores. Edit: nm, I was thinking of the Oasis.
Ted If I remember another thread correctly - I think our feet are both close on size (I might be a half size bigger). I wear a 13 street shoe and ended up with a 13 1/2 Masai - for a totally flat toe all day trad fit. I ordered 3 pair and kept the best fit. I'm very happy with them. I'm getting ready to buy a pair of Ra's in a slightly tighter but not super tight fit. Tenaya says the same size in a Ra will be tighter than a Masai anyway. I'll let you know after I get them how they compare.
Arin F · · Las Vegas · Joined Oct 2011 · Points: 64

For the Masai, I wear street shoe size for short stuff and a half size up for multipitch. I downsize for the Ra, half size down from street shoe size for most everything climbed.

Chris Rice · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2013 · Points: 55
Gray Bush wrote:For the Masai, I wear street shoe size for short stuff and a half size up for multipitch. I downsize for the Ra, half size down from street shoe size for most everything climbed.
So an entire size difference down for the Ra even for longer routes? Does this give an sport fit - all day fit etc? Can you give examples and thoughts please on each?
Arin F · · Las Vegas · Joined Oct 2011 · Points: 64

I would try street shoe size in Ra for the longer routes. For some reason, a half size down seemed good for me and it is rare for me to size down. The Ra seemed very comfortable, although on multipitch, I still popped them off my heel until it was time to climb again. I prefer the masai at a half size up for multipitch over the Ra.

Chris Rice · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2013 · Points: 55
Gray Bush wrote:I would try street shoe size in Ra for the longer routes. For some reason, a half size down seemed good for me and it is rare for me to size down. The Ra seemed very comfortable, although on multipitch, I still popped them off my heel until it was time to climb again. I prefer the masai at a half size up for multipitch over the Ra.
Does the Ra climb noticeably different than the Masai in any aspect?
Arin F · · Las Vegas · Joined Oct 2011 · Points: 64

People say they are slightly more aggressive but I have never noticed a difference.

Chris Graham · · Bartlett, NH · Joined Jun 2008 · Points: 545

I went up a full size from my street shoe on the Masai. I fit them comfortable for all day trad. Could have gone up 1/2 a size but would have sacrificed comfort with little difference in performance. I went down 1/2 size for my Ra and Iati. Pleased with the fit on all accounts

Marc Squiddo · · Mountain View, CA · Joined Jul 2008 · Points: 15
Chris Graham wrote:I went up a full size from my street shoe on the Masai. I fit them comfortable for all day trad. Could have gone up 1/2 a size but would have sacrificed comfort with little difference in performance. I went down 1/2 size for my Ra and Iati. Pleased with the fit on all accounts
I went half down on the RA and Lati and half up on Masai.
Jason L. · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2014 · Points: 40

I found the Masai to fit much tighter. I wear a 10.5 or 11 street shoe, and ended up with size 12 Masai, and still a bit tight in the toes, though there is some heel gap now, along with a pain point where the shoe pinches and rubs the back of my foot/ankle area.

Overall, compared to the Mythos, much more aggressive, much less comfort. The usual trade-off.

charlienw · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2015 · Points: 75

Same with me. I bought masai's in my street size and they are far too tight to wear for more than two pitches. Great shoes though!

Henri Alexander · · Dallas, TX · Joined Mar 2014 · Points: 471

Follow-up: I bought the Iati and it has been a stellar shoe. With the customize-able velcro strap, I've been able to suck out almost all of the heel pocket that seems to get made in Tenaya shoes.

I wear a size 11 street shoe and bought a size 9 Iati. That lets me wear the shoes for about three boulder problems or two routes before having to take them off. I did wear them on a three pitch route but it started to hurt on the third pitch.

I think it is excellent for bouldering, sport and face climbs. You should not use this for crack or slab.So far, I've climbed with the Iati in the gym, limestone and sandstone. It did well on all of those surfaces.

I vote for the Iati more than the Tarifa because the performance nearly identical, but you can cinch the shoe down better and quickly take them on/off.

Brandt Allen · · Joshua Tree, Cal · Joined Jan 2004 · Points: 210

coolhandBuke - I'd be interested to know what size Intis you got. What's your street shoe, Sportiva, etc. size? How snug is the fit? Any info would be appreciated. Thanks.

W L · · NEVADASTAN · Joined Mar 2010 · Points: 851

Kind of an update as it relates to the RA now that I have had mine (and used them extensively) for a year:

1. Great shoe.  The perfect blend for me between being stiff enough to edge well but also sensitive enough/soft enough to smear when need be.  

2.  After time, as with all synthetic uppers, they get a bit slimy once your feet get sweaty.  Perhaps I have sweaty feet, which very well may be the case, but with that being said...anyone have any suggestions on how to de-slime the interior of these?  It starts to feel like a swamp with the shoes losing some of their stability.

3. Durable as hell.  I've been climbing a good bit of sport and tech face over the past 5 months, and really over the past year, with these as my go-to's.  They still do not yet need a resole and the uppers are in great shape.  Damn impressive.

4. The rubber.  I've always been a 5.10 rubber guy...complained about their shoe tech being a bit behind the curve, but the rubber has always been phenomenal...and the shoes have always fit my hobbit feet.  The rubber on these Tenaya's is pretty damn good.  Not even mad.

5. Warts and all, I bought a second pair for more performance-oriented outings due to the slime factor and likely will continue to be loyal to this shoe, since nothing else fits my wide feet in the Tenaya line that I have tried (Oasi, Tarifa, Masai.)  These things beat the pants off of the shoe they are most comparable to, the Anasazi VCS.

Henri Alexander · · Dallas, TX · Joined Mar 2014 · Points: 471

2.  After time, as with all synthetic uppers, they get a bit slimy once your feet get sweaty.  Perhaps I have sweaty feet, which very well may be the case, but with that being said...anyone have any suggestions on how to de-slime the interior of these?  It starts to feel like a swamp with the shoes losing some of their stability.

The "slime" is buildup of sweat, dirt, chalk, dead skin, etc. A good way to get rid of all that is to wash them by hand with soapy water and a rag. I wouldn't use the washing machine because they'll get beat up. After washing, wear them until almost dry so you don't lose the forming to your foot. Washing will also get rid of the nasty little Hobbitses living in your shoes.

Caspar van Lissa · · Amsterdam, Netherlands · Joined Aug 2018 · Points: 0

I want to vent some of my frustration about the Tenaya Mundaka shoes. First of all: I LOVE the design and feel of this shoe. They are really great and improve my performance a lot. However, after just two months, while climbing at most twice a week, the rubber is coming off at several places on both heels, and on the toe patch. They are essentially falling apart with two months of medium use. This experience is reminiscent of the posts by two other contributors on this thread. I sent the shoes back to the factory, but they rejected my warranty claim. Instead, they offered to reimburse me for having the heel glued by a shoemaker. However, the fact that this is happening at many places on both shoes makes me think that it's just shoddy construction. Very frustrating that I found shoes which I love, but which fall apart so soon.

V.C. C · · Folsom, CA · Joined Apr 2016 · Points: 50
Caspar van Lissa wrote: I want to vent some of my frustration about the Tenaya Mundaka shoes. First of all: I LOVE the design and feel of this shoe. They are really great and improve my performance a lot. However, after just two months, while climbing at most twice a week, the rubber is coming off at several places on both heels, and on the toe patch. They are essentially falling apart with two months of medium use. This experience is reminiscent of the posts by two other contributors on this thread. I sent the shoes back to the factory, but they rejected my warranty claim. Instead, they offered to reimburse me for having the heel glued by a shoemaker. However, the fact that this is happening at many places on both shoes makes me think that it's just shoddy construction. Very frustrating that I found shoes which I love, but which fall apart so soon.

I had the same issue with the heel rubber, but not the toe patch. Super glue does wonder!

Andrew Rademacher · · Loveland, OH · Joined Apr 2017 · Points: 0

So Ive finally found the shoe that fits me perfectly as an all arounder. The Masai turns out to fit my weird arrow shaped and super thin feet perfectly! They’ve turned out to be the perfect volume and for any point footed, low volume climber I will not be able to recommend them enough. 

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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